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1997 Youngstown State Penguins football
NCAA Division I-AA champion
Conference Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 4
Record13–2 (4–2 Gateway)
Head coach
Home stadium Stambaugh Stadium
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Gateway Football Conference standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 Western Illinois $^   6 – 0     11 – 2  
Northern Iowa   5 – 1     7 – 4  
No. 4 Youngstown State ^   4 – 2     13 – 2  
Southwest Missouri State   3 – 3     5 – 6  
Indiana State   2 – 4     3 – 8  
Southern Illinois   1 – 5     3 – 8  
Illinois State   0 – 6     2 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 1997 Youngstown State Penguins football team was an American football team represented Youngstown State University in the Gateway Football Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their 12th season under head coach Jim Tressel, the team compiled a 13–2 record (4–2 against conference opponents) and defeated McNeese State in the 1997 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game. [1] It was Youngstown State's fourth national championship in seven years. [2]

Quarterback Demond Tidwell received the team's most valuable player award. [3] The team's statistical leaders included Tidwell with 1,961 passing yards, Jack Andreadis with 1,057 rushing yards and 1,688 all-purpose yards, and Adrian Brown with 122 points. [4]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 287:00 p.m. Slippery Rock*No. 11
W 33–914,107
September 67:00 p.m. Kent State*No. 9
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 44–2317,974
September 201:00 p.m.at Boston University*No. 6
W 28–72,035
September 277:00 p.m. Hofstra*No. 2
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 27–2216,071
October 42:00 p.m.at Indiana StateNo. 2
W 31–05,335
October 111:00 p.m. Buffalodagger*No. 1
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 52–1720,519
October 181:30 p.m.at No. 24 Northern IowaNo. 1
L 32–3512,218
November 11:00 p.m. Illinois StateNo. 4
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 13–013,363
November 812:30 p.m.at Southern IllinoisNo. 4
W 34–102,000 [5]
November 151:00 p.m. Southwest Missouri StateNo. 4
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
W 45–1311,167
November 221:00 p.m. No. 2 Western IllinoisNo. 4
  • Stambaugh Stadium
  • Youngstown, OH
L 21–2412,134 [6]
November 291:00 p.m. No. 9 Hampton*No. 4
W 28–1312,431 [7]
December 612:00 p.m.at No. 1 Villanova*No. 4
W 37–347,591
December 1312:30 p.m.at No. 6 Eastern Washington*No. 4
W 25–148,529 [8]
December 202:00 p.m.vs. No. 7 McNeese State*No. 4
W 10–914,771 [2]

References

  1. ^ "2018 YSU Football Media Guide" (PDF). Youngstown State University. p. 43. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Penguins win 4th national title: Tidwell's TD pass lifts Youngstown State". The Times Recorder. Associated Press. December 21, 1997. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ 2018 Media Guide, p. 45.
  4. ^ 2018 Media Guide, pp. 31-32.
  5. ^ Hardwig, Greg (November 9, 1997). "Penguins ice SIU". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 1C. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Leathernecks capture Gateway championship". The Southern Illinoisan. Associated Press. November 23, 1997. p. 3C. Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Penguins down Hampton". The Newark Advocate. November 30, 1997. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Eastern's last stand". The Spokesman-Review. December 14, 1997. pp. C1, C8 – via Newspapers.com.
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